Share
Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
3 months ago
Overview
DSS drags Pat Utomi to court over shadow govt formation
The Department of State Services has dragged a former presidential candidate, Prof. Pat Utomi, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over his recently formation of a shadow government. In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/937/2025, the DSS named Utomi, the 2007 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, as the sole defendant, accusing him of attempting to unlawfully usurp the executive powers of President Bola Tinubu.
Utomi had recently unveiled a 39-man shadow government, saying it was necessitated by the alleged poor handling of governance by President Tinubu-led Federal Government. While the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress condemned the move, Utomi insisted that he acted within his constitutional right. However, in a suit filed through its lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), the DSS described Utomi’s shadow government illegal and an attempt to instigate public disaffection against President Tinubu.
According to the DSS, Utomi’s shadow government or cabinet, being amounts to operating as an alternative government, contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The DSS contends that Utomi, through public statements, social media, and other platforms, announced the creation of the shadow government to challenge the legitimacy of the democratically elected government of President Bola Tinubu.
According to the DSS, during the inauguration of the ‘shadow cabinet’, Utomi reportedly stated that it includes the Ombudsman and Good Governance portfolio to be led by Dele Farotimi; a Policy Delivery Unit team comprising Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo, and Obi Ajuga; as well as a Council of Economic Advisers. The DSS stated: “Based on the intelligence gathered by the plaintiff, the activities and statements made by the defendant and his associates are capable of misleading segments of the Nigerian public, weakening confidence in the legitimacy of the elected government, and fuelling public disaffection.”
More: https://punchng.com/dss-drags-pat-utomi-to-court-over-shadow-govt-formation/
